By KUNA,
Islamabad : More than 20 people were killed and nearly 40 others were wounded in two huge explosions, believed to be suicide attacks, outside a weapon-production factory in eastern Pakistan on Thursday, said police.
The incident occurred outside the Pakistan Ordnance Factories (POF) in Wah Cantonment area of Taxila city, about 50 kilometers from Islamabad.
Police sources told KUNA that two suicide bombers blew themselves up, one at the main gate of the POF and the other at the back gate, at the time when a large number of workers were leaving the factory.
According to the sources, more than 20 people were killed and over 40 others were wounded.
An eyewitness, Jamsheed Riaz, said that he was passing by the factory on his motorbike when he heard two loud explosions. “After the explosions, all I could see were dead bodies scattered everywhere,” he said.
POF is the premier defense industry of Pakistan, producing a wide range of conventional defensive arms and ammunitions. It exports products to over 40 countries in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and the Americas.
Immediately after the explosions, security forces cordoned off the site and beefed up security.
The wave of suicide attacks targeting security forces has resurfaced in Pakistan amid political instability, that could lead to end of partnership between the two main political parties at the center.
Concerns have already been expressed over Pakistan’s anti-terrorist strategy after Pervez Musharraf, a key US ally in the war against terrorism, resigned from presidency to avoid impeachment.